[nagdu] Introducing myself, and a question

Darla Rogers djrogers0628 at gmail.com
Tue Jan 28 00:05:03 UTC 2014


Hi Marion,

	I am in total agreement, but many don't realize how hard it is to
get o&m without having a VR case opened; I don't know if one can just go to
an NFB center or not to gain any blindness skills that are needed without
funding from VR.
Darla 


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of National
Association of Guide Dog Users
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 2:56 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introducing myself, and a question

Barb,
	I agree with your assertion that there are those who should not
receive a dog until they have better O&M skills. O&M is the basic skill of
travel, whether by cane or dog. Some training programs require proficiency
in cane travel as a prerequisite for training, while others seem to believe
the myths held by the general public that a dog will solve a blind person's
mobility problems. If the person cannot get there independently, how can
that person give the dog the proper direction to get them there? .

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala



-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
barbandzoe at comcast.net
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 12:10 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introducing myself, and a question

HI everyone, I hope you and your dogs are staying warm.  
  
I have not gotten my dog yet, and I am also looking at Fidelco.  but the
reason I am sending this is because, everyone talks about ownership, and Yes
I do think it is nice to have the ownership, but I also see why some schools
don't let you just take the dog and run.  I think with all schools there
should be a time of about a year, on your first dog, before you have
ownership, because this way the school can make sure you know how to handle
a dog, both as a guide and as a pet. 
  
I say this because I have been watching a couple of guys in my city who have
guide dogs, and they don't seem to know how to travel by themselves, and
then they have to tell this poor confused dog which way to go.  They get off
the bus and stand there just trying to decide if they should go left, right
or forward.  the dog is just standing looking around and then at his person
waiting to go. How I know that the people on this list are probably some of
the better dog users, because to me you wouldn't be on a list like this if
you didn't care about your dog and helping other with theirs.   But I see
this and I think to myself, why did they give these guys a dog, because to
me he looks like he needs a bit more O&M training before he can be
responsible for this dog. I say this because when I talk to the schools,
they tell me time and time again, that I need to walk and work these dogs
almost every day to keep their skills sharp, No problem.  So I think, does
the school know how the guy travels and is this still OK.  I have also seen
some very good dog users and the dogs seem so much happier and confident in
what they are doing.  
  
As I look at the  things people say and have said about their best and not
so best guide dog school, It looks to me that you find a school with the
kind of dog you want and the kind of training you can do, plus if you want
to travel a long way from home or stay nearby. 
I chose Fidelco because I wanted a GSD, and if I were to take four weeks off
work, I wouldn't have job to come home to. I think most of the schools are
very good, we mostly near about them when things go wrong.  there are a lot
of people out there that have guide dogs from all the schools and are very
happy in their choice.  so I think you need to look at what they offer and
see which one feels right for you.  
  
Barb 
  
  

----- Original Message -----

From: "National Association of Guide Dog Users" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2014 5:09:49 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introducing myself, and a question 

Matt,
        Please read my article in the April 2011 Braille Monitor concerning
Fidelco and my blog post at 

Harnessup.wordpress.org 

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala 



-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Matthew Dierckens
Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2014 3:57 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] Introducing myself, and a question 

Hello everyone. 
I thought I'd come over here and introduce myself, and I have a bit of an
inquiry. 
My name is Matt, and I am from Ontario Canada. I am hoping to get a guide
dog sometime in the future, my goal is to have one by the end of this year. 
I've done extended research and spoken to various schools. 
I came across this school called Fidelco. If there's anyone on this list who
have had experiences, good or bad with Fidelco, I'd like to hear about them.

Thank you. :) 

Matthew Dierckens
Macintosh Trainer
Blind Access Training
www.blindaccesstraining.com
1-877-774-7670 ext. 4 




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